Bath Court by Robert Hirschfield Architects

This 435-bed scheme is a mixture of en-suite clusters and individual studios, built over 12 storeys. The student accommodation consists of 360 ensuite bedrooms within 6 and 8 bedroom apartments as well as 75 studio bedrooms.

The prominent 100m street frontage wraps itself around two sides of the site. The lower level is anchored by a new retail unit, gym, communal social space and silent study areas, with the upper levels providing the apartment accommodation for the students. To the rear, a large landscaped raised terrace provides external space for the students.

An assortment of blue glazed aluminium extrusions gives the building an overall water-like effect which references the historic Victorian public baths in the Bath Row area.

CHALLENGE

This was LinkCity’s first student accommodation scheme in the Midlands. They were looking to strengthen their development offering and already had hold of a site in Birmingham that was deemed underdeveloped.

When RHA were first asked to explore massing studies for the site, it was clear that the site was underdeveloped and that the existing 1970s office blocks had potential under a new asset class.

The development sits at a corner section of several major roads leading to the city centre and Birmingham New Street train station. However, the existing building fell flat of providing an accessible, safe and attractive urban environment on this prominent site.

Early considerations, such as lack of parking provision, drew us to student accommodation as a solution. However, we needed to ensure there was the justification and the demand for 435 new student rooms in Birmingham. The local planning authority had challenged us to design a high quality building so as not to affect future resource as many other recent examples are not fit for purpose only a few years on.

Robert Hirschfield Architects carried out a feasibility study for the site in 2011 and were then appointed as the concept architects that developed the design narrative working alongside Stride Treglown during the planning stages. RHA remained involved through the design and construction phases with the project completing in August 2020.

• Completed August 2020
• 435 bed scheme is a mixture of en-suite clusters and individual studios, built over 12 storeys.
• 13,000 sq. ft.
• 100m street frontage
• One mile southwest of Birmingham City Centre
• Replacement of 1970s low rise office blocks
• Facilities comprising a new retail unit, gym, communal social space and silent study areas.